UK govt wants better ties with Gujarat

Asks British High Commissioner to meet Modi and senior officials of the state

The minister of state for Foreign Office, United Kingdom has asked the British High Commissioner in India to meet with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to discuss a wide range of issues of mutual interest and to explore opportunities for closer cooperation, for improving bilateral relations with India.

UK minister of state of the Foreign Office, Hugo Swire in a statement issued on Thursday said that the wide rage of issue also include getting justice for the families of the British nationals who were killed in 2002 riots. Three British nationals —Saeed Dawood, Mohammed Aswat Nallabhai, Shakil Dawood — and their Gujarati driver Yusuf Sulaiman were burnt to death during the communal violence in 2002 on National Highway No 8 near Prantij in Sabarkantha on February 28, 2002.

"I have asked the British High Commissioner in New Delhi to visit Gujarat and to meet the Chief Minister and other senior figures in the state," Swire said.

"This will allow us to discuss a wide range of issues of mutual interest and to explore opportunities for closer cooperation, in line with the British Government’s stated objective of improving bilateral relations with India," he further said.

Swire further said in the statement, "The UK has a broad range of interests in Gujarat. We want to secure justice for the families of the British nationals who were killed in 2002. We want to support human rights and good governance in the state. We also want to provide the best possible support for British nationals who live in, work in or visit Gujarat; and to the many Gujaratis who now make up one of the most successful and dynamic communities in the UK."

He further said that this was part of his government’s commitment to strengthen relations with India. "We have an interest in ensuring that we provide a full and consistent range of services across the whole country.I feel that active engagement will help further these interests.  We will consider in the light of the High Commissioner’s visit how best to take forward our relationship with Gujarat," the UK minister's statement said.

Reacting to the development Modi wrote on Twitter, "Der Aaye Durasta Aaye (Better late than never)!! I welcome UK Govt's step for active engagement & strengthening relations with Guj. God is Great."

A statement on Modi's official blog said, "This is a significant announcement from the UK. It recognizes the progress Gujarat has made in the past 11 years under the leadership of Modi. The Chief Minister is already extremely popular among the British-Gujarati diaspora.The announcement will help both United Kingdom and Gujarat in various areas."